Mechanical stoker.



PATENTED FEB. 18, 1908.

A. B. SBLDBN. MECHANICAL STOKER. LPPLIUATION FILED OOT.2. 1905.

" INVENTOR= M 618 5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES= J :ZWML.

No. 879,682. PATENTBD FEB. 18, 1908.

A. R. SBLDEN. v MECHANICAL STOKEB.

APPLICATION FILED OGT.2. 1965.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

FIG-3 17 5e 2 10 r22 WITNESSES, WVENTOR:

l -K S la; my ,4 Ham- 3 aim mm) All-Ia WITNESSES= PATENTED FEB. 18, 1908. A. R. SELDBN. MECHANICAL STOKER. APPLIOATIGN rum) 00122. 1905.

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|NVENTOR= PATENTBD FEB. 18, 1908.

A. H. SELDEN. MECHANICAL STOKBR. urmoumx nun 0012:. not.

FIGJZ- "H Hu l i l l N ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR B SEL DEN, ROCHESTER, N ONE-HALF TO C. SCHUYLER DAVIS, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

ea MECHANICAL sroKnR,

. J i No. 879,682. a.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it. known that I, ARTHUR R. SELnnN, a cit zen of the United States, and resident of Rochester,in the county of Monroe and V toit.

Other objects of the invention are to avoid waste of fuel in the form of smoke by feeding the fuel small quantities, and scattering it evenly over the grates in thin layers, in the manner? in which it would be laid on the grates by the hand-f a skilful stoker, and to make it possible to use with good results fine coalof a cheap grade that cannot be used under Ordinary conditions.

Still other-advantages will be pointed out in the course of the specification.

In the drawings:Figure 1 shows an end view of the stoker in position before a boiler; Fig. 2 is a top view of the same showing the hopper in dotted lines; Fig. 3 is a side view of the same; Fig. 4. is a vertical section on the line -i4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2; Fig. 6 is a front view of the parts that throw the fuel into the furnace; Fig. 7 is a side view of the same partsg-Fig. 8- shows in another position some the parts shown in Fig. 7; Fig. 9 shows the means for o era-ting and controlling the said projector;- ig; 10 shows another device for 0 rating the said pro'ector; Fig. 11 shows in e evation the means or operating said proje'ctor, with means for automatically chan mg-the stroke, Fig. 12 is a top view of the parts shown in Fig. 11; Fig. 13 shows another View of part of the means for operatim the projector shown in Fig. 9; and Fig. 14 s ows the same in section.

The operating parts of the stoker are secured upon the platform 1 of a truck whose forward end is placed upon wheels 3, and its rear end supported by standards 3%, 3}, so that it can be moved readily into position before the furnace (see Fig. 3).

4 is a hopper which is supported at its forward end above the truck by the bracket 5,

i .and, atits rear end, by posts 6, 6, one on eachside..

Specification of Letters Patent." 2 Application filed October 2, 1905. Serial No. 280.885.

Patentr'l Feb. 18, 1908.

The hopper is arched at its center so that it forms two separate chutes 7, 7. These chutes lie, respectively, within spouts 8, 8 (see Fig. 5) upon the bracket 5, the upper edges of the spouts supporting the forward end' of the hopper.

The fuel is discharged from the spouts S, 8 into a lower chute 9 (see Fig. 5), and the latter is attached to a trough 10 through which the plunger, or projector, 11 reciprocates to convey fuel to the grates. The forward end of the trou h 10 is pivotally supported upon. the true at 12 to swing horizontally, and at its rear end is extended back in the form of a frame 13 that is supported upon a carriage 13%, the wheels I L, 14 of the latter being adapted to roll upon the table 1, as the trough 10 is swung from side to side in the manner to be described.

The trough 10 is provided with a removable lid 15 above the projector 11, whereby access is had to the parts contained within it.

When the machine is in position before a furnace, as shown in the drawings, the door 16 that opens into the fire box is thrown 0 ion and back against the furnace wall, and t e and of the trough is inserted into the doorway. In order to close the doorway around the trough, plates 17, 17 (see F ig. 2) are fastened upon the platform 1. These overlap the frame of the door and extend inwardly toward the trou h 10, meeting, respectively, shields 18, 18 that are attached to and extend out from the trough 10. [he shields 18, 18 are repres nted as bent into the arc of a circle that will cause them to lie close to the plates 17, 17, respectively, while the trough 10 is turned upon its pivot 12. The head 19 of the projector 11 carries the rollers 20, 20 by which it is support-ed upon horizontal guides 21, 21 that lie beneath the cover 15. The outer end of the projector 11 is pivotally attached at 22 to one end of a lever 23.

.A bracket 24 is rigidly secured to the other end of this lever 23, and that is pivoted by the rod. 25 between posts 26, 26 that stand upon the trough 10.

The lever 23 and bracket 24, falling by gravity, force by their weight the pro ector 11 inwardly to make its forward stroke, after the projector 11 and lever 23 have been drawn back into, andreleased from, the positions in which they are shown, respec tively, in dotted lines m Fig. 4. The force of the stroke may be increased by an ad justahle weight 27 upon a projecting rod 23- that extends back from the bracket24.

The lever 23 is raised so as to'draw back the projector fo its forward stroke by a pitman 29 attached to the plunger of a water cylinder 30. The pitman 29 is slotted at 29% to receive a pin 31 on the lever 23 (see Fig. 9). A spring-controlled dog 32 on the side of the pitman engages the end of the pin, therebycausing the lever to be elevated by the pit-man, and a detent on 'the bracket 24 trips the dog so as to release the i113! and allow the lever to drop, when it as reached the proper height.

The. water pressure of a city water supply main may he utilized to raise the pitman 2 9, the water being admitted to the cylinder through the pipe 34 and discharged through the pipe 35. A suitable valve (not shown) such, for example, as an ordinary D valve,

controls the admission and explusion of water from the cylinder, and this is governed by a part connected with the pitman 29. Such a governor is shown in the bell crank lever 36 which is attached to the valve and at the other end a rod 39. A bracket 10 on the pitman 29 engages a sto 41 on the back the lever 36 and ope rod 39 and raises the lever 36 til the weight 38 passes the central vertical plane, when it will fall and complete the stroke of the valve, shutting off the water from the inlet and opening the exhaust. hen the piston 29 descends the hracket 40 engages another stop 41%, forcing down the rod 39, throwing the valve to the water presure. A. Weignt 30;,- on the piston causes it to descend rapidly and force the water out of the cylinder 30. It is obvious that, if desired, steam instead of'water may .be admitted into the cylinder 30 to operate the pitinan 29.

The projector 11 is impelled forward with suiiicient force to throw the fuel into the furnace and scatter it"hver the grate; but

" in order to project'the fuel farther, and to distribute it more finely and uniformly over the grates, an outwardly swinging plate 42 is pivotally attached to the head 19 of the pro- ]ector, so that it is free to swing outwardly therefrom (see Figs. 6 and 7). When the projector '11 has reached the end of its forward stroke and is brought to a stop, the lower end of the plate 42 continues to swing outward and upward by its acquired mo menturn, and the curved lower edge 42%- scoops up the fuel and carries it upward to some extent, thus throwing it farther into the furnace than it would be thrown if the end of the projector 11 was solid and always in a vertical position.

For the pur lose of automatically varying the distance t at the fuel is rojected into the furnace, a rod 43 is carried through and out beyond the head 19 of the projector 11. as shown in dotted lines in Fig. (l. which cngages the rear face of'thc swinging-plan 4;. asshown in Fig. 7. The other cud of the rod is attached toan'ccccntric 44 which in turn is attached to one end of a shaft 45 that carries on its other end a ratchet 46 shown in dotted lines in Figs. 7 and S. The ratchet 46 is operated by the pawl 47 on the lever .23 to thrust the rod 43'gra'dually outmgainst 7 the back of the swinging-plate 42, further and further, and then to withdraw it in the same way.

Distribution of the fuel over the grates is also enhanced by consecutively and gradu so ally facing the projector in different direc tions as it operates. Thus the trough in which the projector 11 reciprocates may be swung gradually from side to side as it dc-. livers'the fuel. wheel 48 is pivoted to the under side of the swinging trough 10 upon a post +19, and a rod 50 is attached at its one end to the rim of said ratchet wheel, and at the other end to the stationary plate 1. A pawl 51, carried. on one end of a lever 52, engages the Tooth ofihe ratchet wheel l8. "The lever 52 extends across said ratchet wheel, and is free to turn upon the pivot 49. The end of said lever 52 opposite the pawl 51 is connected by a link 52% to the lower end of a lever 53, which is pivoted to the frame-13 at 54. A roller 55 on the end of the projector 11 engages the lever 53 each time said projector is drawn backward, and therefore at each stroke, the lever 53 is swung on its pivot 54, and the link is rcciprocated. The motion of the latter actuates the lever 52 and the pawl 51, thus slowly turning the ratchet wheel ifl'around. The rod 50, being held stationary at one end, forces the said ratchet wheel, and the frame 13 to which it is pivoted, toward one side; then as the said rod asses the dead center, the frame 13 will egin to move the otherway, and thctotal distance whichit swings will be just equal to the diameter of the circle described by the end of the rod 50 which is pivoted to the ratchetwheel 48. A spring 53% tends to return the lever 53 to its initial position.

The operation of the machine is as follows: The hopper is filled with a sup ly of fuel, some of which passes-down into t 1e chute 9 and thence through 0 enings 56, 56, one on each side of the (mug i 10. onto the bottom 0 plate of the latter directly in the path of the plate 42. The cocks 5? and 58 (see Fig. 2) 1n the water supply and exhaust pipes, res ctively, are next opened. Assuming t rat the parts of the machine are in the positions in which they are represented in the drawings in full lines, the alive in the cylinder 30 is open to the admission of water under pressure from the main 34, the pitman 29 raises the lever 23, and, in so doing, draws 30 F or this purpose a ratchet S5 back the projector 11. The pivoted plate -12 as it comes in contact on the back stroke with the pile of fuel that lies in its path upon the bottom of the trough 10, swings outwardly so that it is drawn over said fuel, but leveling it off as it passes, and in so doing drawing down more from the chute onto the bottom ,of the trough 10, for the fuel is discharge-d from the hopper by gravity. When the projector has been drawn back into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4, and the lever 23 and bracket 24 gain the positions shown in dotted lines in said figure, the lever is released from the plunger 29 by the catch 33, and said lever and bracket, falling by gravity, drive forward the projector 11.

On thetorward stroke of the projector 11 the swinging plate 42 gathers up the fuel that lies in its path on the floor of the trough 10.and carries it alongbetween the sides 10%, 10%, of the trough 10 to the furnace. When the irojector reaches the limit of the forward stro'e the fuel is rejected into the furnace and s read over tlie grates.

Eac 1 time that the projector is withdrawn in preparation for the forward stroke the rod 43 is moved a space forward or back, as the case may be, in its adjustment with reference to the swinging plate 42, so that the throw of the projector iscenstantly and uniformly changed. 1* urthermore, each time that the.

projector is withdrawn, its position in the iorizontal plane is changed, so that the direction in which the fuel is discharged by theswinging plate 42 is constantly changed by small degrees. Thus by these constant changes an even distribution of the fuel in thin layers is assured.

This machine is an efficient smoke consumer, as the term is used. Complete combustion is in the main dependent upon the manner and quantity in which fuel is so plied to the grates, that is to say, u on t 1e stoking. Elticient stoking can be (oneby hand, because the fuel can be fed in small g quantities at a time in that way, and distrib uted evenly over the grates in thin layers. This machine accomplishes what is done by hand stoking and with greater precision.

It is obvious that the machine may be modified in litany respects and still be within the scope of the invention, and it is also aparentthat it may be adapted readily to diferc nt conditions. Thus where neither water nor steam pressure is available, or desirable, as the operating power, a motor 59 may be employed to drive a worm 60 that turns a worm wheel 61, which, in turn, rotates a shaft- 62, and a double cam 63 (see l ig. 10). One branch of the cam 63 engages a roller 64 on the rod 65, This rod is pivoted at its upper end at 66 to thebracket- 24, and slides through a guide 63% at its lower end. hen the lever 23 and the bracket 24 are elevated by the cam 63 intothepositions in which they are shown in dotted lines in Fig. 10. the roller 64 escapes from said cam 63. and the lever 23 and bracket 2- fall by gravity as already described, driving the projector I 1 through its forward stroke. The branch of the cam 63 is not: in position to engage the roller 6% and in its turn begins to raise the parts into position for the next forward stroke.

The foregoing description has made it clear that this stoker can be used with any style of furnace or boiler, and that no alterations or additions are necessarv to adapt the furnace to it. The door opening into the the box is opened and the stoker is pushed u to it. That is all there is to be done. if the relative heights of the doorway and lgfujicful are not ight. the height of the projector can be adjusted to the doorway at its rear end by the screw connections 67, 67 between the standards 5 3 s and the table 1. and all its forward end by the toothed collars 65. G5. which engage and lock the legs 2. 2 of the truck to the wheels 3, 3. Another great advantage a'tforded by this machine is that while it is in place before the furnace, the the box is accessible with a poker. Thus ig. 1 shows the doors 6), 69 that give the poker access to the tire box to even up and rake down the fuel over the grates, to be free and exposed; The door 70 into the ash p t can also be opened and closed without disturbim the position of the machine, for it is adapted to swing between the wheels 3. 3 of the truck.

No automatic feed is required to carry the fuel from the hopper into the path of the projector, for the coal is agitated sufficiently in the lower chute 9 by the rotation of this chulc with respect to the stationary spouts 8. 8 to prevent any clogging, and furthcririore is stirred .by the jarring produced by the shock of the projector in operation to cause the coal to fall by gravity in the path of the plunger when, and in such quantities as it is required.

j In order to stop the projector at the-conipletion of its stroke without unduly jarring the machine, a. dash pot 71 may be employed, whose plunger 72 is connected with the bracket 24 by the connecting rod 73. Guides 74, 74 control the vertical movement of the plunger 72, (see.Fig. 3).

The impetus with which the fuel is thrown into the furnace may be regulated by manipulating the valve 715. in the dash pot.

The force with which the fuel is discharged by the projector into the furnace may also be made to change automatically in order to promote its distribution. Means for accomplishing this is show-n in Figs. 11 and 12 in connection with the pitman 29. lever 23! and bracket 24 already described. Here the spring-controlled latch 32 is forced back out of the path of the pin 31 by the block 75 carried by the rod 76. The rod 76 is slidably mounted in arms 77, 77 from the plate 78 jector will the lever 23 be released from the pitman 29, and conse uently the shorter and ighter will be the stro e of the projector.

The machine may'be equipped with any pne or all of these automatic devices for enhancing the distribution of the fuel, viz: automatic means for gradually and constantly varying the inclination of the swinging plate 42 on the end of the projector, automatic means for constantly changing the direction of the discharge from the rojector,

and automatic means for constant y changing the impetus of the projector, and consequently the forcewith which the fuel is discharged into the fulnace, and by varying the sizes of'the ratchet wheels and eccentrics of these automatic features, the machine can be adapted readily to all conditions of fuel and furnace construction that are apt to be encountered. But if the machine is equipped with all'of these automatic devices, it is not necessary to use them all at the same time, for instead of constantly changing automa tically the inclinationof the swinging late 42 on the end of the projector, it can, if desired, be set at any angle and there locked in place permanently. This is done in the construction shown and described by Inst rotating the eccentric 44 till said plate 42 is tilted into the r' 'ht position, and then removin or fastening ack, the pawl 47, and locking t e rod 43 against movementin either direction by the bolt 43% (see Fig. 7). So too the position of the block (see F' 11) may lie-adjusted with reference to the atch 32 by rotating the eccentric till the block is adapted to s ringthe latch and free the lever 23 from t e pitman 29 at the desired height, and then removing or fastening back the pawl 83 and locking the rod 76 in place by means of the bolt 77%.

The trough may also be kept in one pos tion by detaching the spring 53%, in which case thelever 53 that rotates the trough, lies back he end the reach of the projector.

Finall the intervals'between the strokes the projectorm'iy be re lated and controlled by means of the coc :s 57 and 58 in the pipes that, respectively, carry the water or steam supply to the cylinder 30, and the exhaust away from it. By closing the exhaust pipe part wav, by means of the cock 58, the

water is made to pass slowly .out from the cylinder 30 under the pressure exerted by the weighted pitman 29, after the latter has been released from the lever 23, and, since the water will not be admitted into the cylinder 30 from the supply pipe until the cylinder has first been exhausted, the backward stroke of the projector will be delayed. So too, by regulating the flow of water into the cylinder 30 from the supply, by means of the cook .57, the -cylinder may be made to fill slowly, thus further prolonging the intervals between strokes.

v What I claim is v 1. In a mechanical stoker the combination with a fuel supply of a longitudinally reciproeating projector, adapted to discharge fuel in'tothe furnace means for delivering fuel from said supply to said projector; means for gradually oscillating the delivery end of the projector from side to side-by intermittent mov ments in each direction between the ating the projector.

2. In a mechanical stoker, the combination with a fuel supply, of a reciprocating projector adapted todischarge fuel into a furnace, and having a movable part that is adapted to engage the fuel; means for delivering fuel from said supply to said projector; means for changing between strokes of the strokes of the proiector and means for actuprojector the inclination of that part of itwhich engages the fuel: and means for actuating the projector. r

3. In a mechanical stoker, the combination with a; fuel supply, of a reciprocating piojector adapted to discharge fuel into a rnace; means for delivering fuel from said supply to said projector; means for changing the inclination of that part of it which ca:- ries the fuel to the furnace; means for chang ing the length of the stroke of the projector; and means for actuating said projector.

4. In a mechanical Stoker, the combination with 'a fuel supply, of a reciprocating piojector adapted to dischar e fuel into a mace and having a movable part that is adapted to engage the fuel; means for de livering fuel from said sunply to said pro jector; means for gradually oscillating the projector; automatic means for gradually changing the inclination of that part of the projector which engages the fuel; means for changing the length of the stroke of the projector; and means for actuating said projector.

5. Ina mechanical stokcr, the combination with a fuel supply, of a reciprocating plunger adapted to discharge fuel into a furnace, and having a movable part that 15 adapted to engage the fuel; means for delivering fuel from said supply to said projector; means for changing the inclination of that part of it which carries the fuel to the furnace means for gradually oscillating the projector; and means for actu ating said projector. 1st

i T. in 'a much i t l i '1 (1. in a mechanical SlOlKl the combination with a fuel supply. of a trough adapted to enter an opening into a furnace; a protector adapted to reciprocate therin and to hscharge fuel into the furnace; means for Echvering fuel from said supply into said rough in position to he acted upon by said rojector: means for graduallv oscillating -"e deli\'er end of said trough, by intermitnt movements in each direction; and warns for actuating said projector.

anical stoker, the combinaiadr'with a fuel supply, of atrough adapted 4" enter an opening into a furnace; a procctor adapted to reciprocate therein and to ischarge fuel into the furnace: means for -lelivering fuel from said supply into said rough in position to be acted upon by said projector; and means actuated by the movement of said pro ector for oscillating said trough.

In a mechanical Stoker, the combina ion with a fuel supply, of a projector having pivotally sup orted part that is adapted to oga-ge the fnei and to swing upwardly and utwardly tr wards the furnace as the fuel is 'Escharged therefrom; means for delivering tel from said supply to said swinging part I said projector; means for actuating said rojector; and'adjustable means for settin 51o inclination of the swinging partof the rojector at different angles. 1

9. In a mechanical stoker, the combina- -ion with a fuel supply, of a projector having 1 pivotally supported part that is adapted to mgagc the fuel and. to swing upwardly and mtwardly towards the furnace as the fuel is lischarged therefrom; means for delivering "mi from said supply to said swinging part i saidprojector; means for actuating said rojector; and means for gradually changing he inclination of the swinging part ofthe =rojector.

10. In a mechanical Stoker, the combine;

: ion with a fuel supply, of a projector adapt d to discharge fuel into a furnace; means for elivering fuel to said projector; means for driving said projector through its forward troke by the impulse of a body falling under ravity; means for releasing such body to fall y gravity; means for elevating it to its 1 n1 :11 position, and at the same time drawing :zck the projector for its forward stroke; and

-tljustable means i or determining the height on) which such body falls. D

11. In a mechanical Stoker, the combina- -n with a fuel supply, of a projector imlle'd by its fall under gravity to discharge el into a furnace; means for delivering said projector; means for elevating the ejector for its forward stroke; and means i erated by the stroke of the pro ector for =anging the height to which the projector'is i ised.

12. In a mechanical stoker, the combinafuel tion with a fuel supply, of a reciprocating projector impelled through its forward stroke by its fall under gravity: means for delivering fuel. to said projector; a motor for retracting said projector: a detachable connecti n between said projector and said motor; means for releasing said projector from said motor when withdrawn for its forward st oke: and means for adjusting the center of gravity of said projector to regulate the force i of its forward impulse.

13. In a mechanical Stoker, the combination with a fuel supply, of a trough pivotally supported upon a suitable supportso as to swing horizontally, and adapted to conduct fuel to a furnace; a projector adapted to reciprocate therein and to discharge fuel into the furnace; means for delivering fuel from said supply into said trough in position to be acted upon by said projector; and means actuated by the projector, while making its stroke, for oscillating said trough.

14. In a mechanical stoker, the combination with a fuel supply, of a trough pivotally supported upon a suitable support so as to swing horizontally, and adapted to conduct fuel to a furnace; a ciprocate therein and to discharge fuel into the furnace; means for delivering fuel from said supply into said trough in position to be acted u on by said projector; a ratchet wheel central y pivoted to the trough; a lever pivoted at one end to the ratchet off its center and at its other end to a fixed support; and a second lever carryin a pawl for said ratchet, carried by the trough and adapted to be engaged by the pro ector. on its backward stroke, whereby the trough is oscillated.

, 15. In a mechanical stoker, the combination with a fuel supply, of a reciprocating projector impelled through its forward stroke by its fall under gravity, and having a pivotally sup orted part that is adapted to engage the fuel and to swing upwardly and out wardly towards the furnace as the fuel is dis- .charged therefrom; means for delivering fuel from said supply to said swinging part of the projector; means for retracting said pro ector for its forward stroke; and means actustroke, for gradually changing the inclination I of said swinging part of said projector.

, 16; In a mechanical stoke-r, the combination with a fuel supply, of a reciprocating rojector impelled through its v its fall under gravity,

and having a pivotali supported part that is adapted to engage the fuel and to swing upwardly and outwardly towards the furnace as the fuel is disproject-or adapted to reated by the projector while making its forward stroke E charged therefrom; means for delivering fuel f from said sup ly to sai swinging part of the projector; a ever for retracting said proector for its forward stroke, pivotally con- ;nectcd to said projector and to a suitable lsupport; a detachable connection between -hcen withdrawn fonits forwarr said lever and a motor, whereby the projector is drawn hack; an eccentric and ratchet carried by said projector, and rotative-together; a pawl carried by said lever, whereby said ratchet is gradually rotated during the stroke of the projector; and a connection between the free end of the pivoted partof the projector and the eccentric whereby the former is gradually tilted. i 17. In a mechanical stoker, the.c0mbination with a fuel supply, of a reciprocating projector impelled through its forward stroke by its fall under gravity; means for delivering fuel to said projector; a motor for retracting said projector for its forward stroke; a lever for drawing back said proj'ector'for itsforward stroke, pivotally attached at one end to said projector and at its other end to a suit? able support; a latch carried by the motor and adapted to engage said, lever to retract the projector; and a block upon said lever adapted to engage said. latch to release said lever from the motor, when the projector has been withdrawn for its forward stroke.

18. In a. mechanical stoker, the combination with a fuel supply, of a reciprocating projector impelled through its forward stroke by its fall under gravity; means for delivering fuel to said projector; a motor for retracting said projector; a lever for drawing back said projector for its forward stroke, pivotally attached atone end to said projector and at its other end to a suitable support a latchcarricd by the motor and adapted to engage said lever to withdraw the projector; a block 11 on said lever adapted to ei'igagc said late to release said lever from the motor when the ppojcctor has means controlled by the movement of said lever for gradually advancing said, block.

19. In a mechanical stoker, the combina tion with a fuel feeder for a furnace, of a chute for delivering fuel to said feeder, adapted to oscillate horizontally; the stationary hopper for a fuel supply supported above said chute, adapted to enter said chute and to agitate the .fuclthcrcin as the the feeding device, comprising verticalv plates that are attached to theplatform one on either side of said doorway, that meet, respectively, curved vertical-plates attached to the feeding device one on either side of it, substantially as shown and described.

- 21; In a mechanical stoker, the combinastroke; andtivdwith a carriage, of a truck adapted-t0 roll th reon; a trough pivoted on the truck 55 for delivering fueltosaid trough and for discharging it therefrom into the furnace; and

means for oscillating said troughnpon said carriage.

22. In a mechanical stoker, the combination with a fuel supply,.of a reciprocating projector adaitcd to discharge fuel into a furnace, impel ed throughits forward stroke by its fall under gravity; means for delivering fuel to said projector; -means for; elevating the projector for its forward stroke; and adjustable means for regulating the height to which the projector is vat-ed. l

23. In a mechanical stoker, the combination with a fuel supply, of a reciprocating projector adapted to discharge fuel into a furnace, impelled through its forward stroke by its fall under gravity; means for deliver; mg fuel-to said pro ector; a rec procating piston for elevating the projector'for its forward stroke and, a detachable connectionbetween said projector and said-piston, 90;

adapted to release saidprojector at its retracted position to make its forward stroke under the impulse of gravity. 7 p

24. In a mechanical stoker, thecombination with a fuel supply, of a reciprocating projector adapted to discharge fuel into a furnace, impelled through its forward stroke by its fall under gravity; means for delivering fuel to said projector; a reciprocating piston for elevating the projector for its for ward stroke; a detachable connection betwen said projector and said piston, ada ted to release said projector at itsretracte position to make its forward stroke under the impulse of gravity; andadjustahle means for determining the intervals between the operating strokes of the piston.

25. In a mcchanicalst'oker, the combina- 'tion with a fuel supply,'of a reciprocating projector impelled through its forward stroke"- hy its fall under gravity means'for deliver ing fuel to said projector; a cylinderv having a piston that is adapted to be moved in'one direction by fluid pressure; a detachable: connection between said pro ector and the piston of said cylinder'adapted to rel ease said projector at its retractedl position, for its forward stroke under the impulse of gravity; a connection between said cylinderand a fluid ressure supply; and means for controlling t e admission and discharge of fluid 'froin said cylinder.

I ARTHUR R..SE LDE1\I.

Witnesses D. Gunman,

L. Tno'n. 

